Getting a new job whilst TTC?

[Giraffle]

So this morning I got an email asking me for an interview at one of the best companies to work for in my area! I applied because they are meant to be brilliant with their employees and the pay is £3 more per hour than I am currently paid on minimum wage something that we desperately need right now! All very exciting as I am the only person they are interviewing!

However we have been TTC #2 for the past 6 months, I'm 6 DPO so can't do the test until next week earliest and I'm concerned what it would look like if this month ends up being the lucky month for us!

If I was to fall pregnant and started a new job I'm terrified I wouldn't be kept on, I suffered severely with HG last pregnancy and I don't know whether it will be the same next time. But the opportunity is incredible and is a job for life if I get it.

If I wasn't to get pregnant this month but got the job, we would probably hold off TTC for a little while whilst I go through the probation period at work. But I just don't know what to do if I do fall pregnant? Do I stay at my current job, which is safe and I have worked for three years but I hate it at the moment as I'm working from home and the pay is barely seeing us through the month, or go for the new better job but take the risk I may not be kept on? I know they can sack you without reason in your probation period which could be up to six months so it would be impossible to keep a pregnancy for that long.

So many thoughts in my head at the moment I just need some advice!

You mentioned money being tight a number of times in your post. My main worry based on what you're saying is that you'll not be eligible for statutory maternity pay if you fell pregnant during this cycle and started a new job. You would only be eligible for statutory maternity allowance.

If I were you I would go ahead with the interview. You have nothing to lose and can do some networking so you have your foot in the door for later. But if they were to offer you the job I wouldn't take it unless AF has arrived.

If money wasn't an issue then it's difficult to advise. Given what you've described in your prior pregnancy I would probably opt to stay where you are jobwise if you get a BFP this cycle. It'll only be 9 months until you go on maternity leave. Check your terms and conditions and work out when you can hand your notice in and if there are any clauses related to paying back any enhanced maternity pay.

If another job comes up whilst you're on maternity leave then you could always apply then and ask to defer your start for a month or two?

Go for the interview if they do offer you the job u don't have to give them an answer straight off the bat, if they did give you the job u could be honest and say I would love to come and join the team but have just found out I'm expecting so would understand if ur offer no longer stands but please keep me in mind for when another post arises, they may shock you and be supportive and still give you the job x

Just go for the interview. By time you've had the interview, they tell you the outcome and you get an actual start date (if successful), you will find out if you're pregnant. It's perfectly reasonable to pull out of a job before starting.

Don't write off the job based on "what if".

I started a job and 2 weeks later had my LMP before getting pregnant whilst in probation. An employer can’t fire you even if you are new because you can sue on grounds of unfair dismissal due to pregnancy. I’d go for the interview and see if you get the job. A browse on maternity action website will give you more information 😊

I can't believe what I'm reading. OP, go for the interview and for the love of god if they offer you the job, take it!

All your worries are based on things that haven't happened yet. Even if you are pregnant - you've got 9 months to go yet! That's a lot of experience and ££ under your belt.

Deal with any problems/ issues when they/ if they arrive. You say you're the only person they're interviewing. Please don't let this opportunity slip through your hands.

I am shocked with these responses. OP, you have absolutely no obligation to inform them of your pregnancy at the interview, at the point when they make an offer, and in fact not until 15 weeks before you're due. I am pregnant now, found out after the initial contact from the recruiter and future new employer, had an interview, will have a follow up in January as they are poaching me so we need to discuss the terms.

I will categorically not tell them about the pregnancy. Why? Because it's none of their business. If they want to employ me, they want to employ me, pregnancy has nothing to do with it. I would consider SPL or shorter maternity leave, but I would not accept being forced to do it.

They cannot discriminate against you on the basis of your pregnancy.

Honestly, I've had 3 miscarriages before this pregnancy which is still in very early stages. The honest truth is that you never know how it'll go and there's absolutely no reason for putting your life on hold.

I say go for it, check your entitlements on gov.uk. Maternity Allowance actually won't be that much different to SMP at all.

Very best of luck to you.

I'm actually incredibly shocked at some of the responses you have had to this - to not take you on because you plan on becoming pregnant would be discrimination, and regardless as others have said it is absolutely none of your employers business at this very early stage.

Another thing to consider is that presumably you are young, you must have at least 25 years of working years ahead of you - maternity leave will be but a tiny blip of leave in comparison and of no consequence to the business.
Go to the interview and take the job if offered.

Thank you all so much for your responses! I’m going to go for it and see what happens by the time I have the interview in the new year I’ll know if I’m pregnant or not I think my brain just went into overdrive but a bit of clarity from you all has helped so much! This really is an incredible opportunity so I’m going to take it if I’m offered it and hope for the best

@Giraffle Good luck! I hope you get it!

@Giraffle go for the interview! They can’t discriminate against you for being pregnant and if you are the only person they are interviewing it sounds hopeful! And ‘technically’ when you go for interview and hopefully start the job you might still be in the stage where you ‘don’t know you are pregnant’ 😂 fingers crossed for you for the job and the baby! X

I've just started a new job this week and we have and will continue TTC no matter what.

We discussed this before I took the job and we aren't prepared to put our life on hold and delay starting a family for a job. It might mean I have to take maternity allowance rather than a decent maternity pay package but that's just not as important to us!

Best of luck with the interview and baby making! X